Page 42 of The Fallen Fae King

She glances between the crocodile and me, as if readying herself to attack one of us. “There is nothing petty about ambition.”

“Then choke on it. Once, I would have called you mother and meant it. I longed for someone — anyone — to love me or show me kindness. Until the arrival of…” I glance at Freya, still clutched on Horus’ knee, and my expression softens. “…I had forgotten what they even meant. But all you showed me was despair and pain. Why? Because this palace isn’t grand enough for you?”

Isis sniffs. “Of course you wouldn’t understand.”

My temples throb.

The Void Devils press at my mind, pulsing with one word: devour, devour, devour.

I grab at my hair, wrenching it from my head.

“What’s wrong with you?” Horus demands. “Are you having a fit?”

“Nothing is wrong with me,” I pant. “I realize now that it never was. It’s all of us…the rest of the world that was wrong. I should let the Void Devils fucking devour you.”

“Then kill yourself. Right now.” Isis leans forward, hungrily. “My son shall become the revered martyr who throws himself in and saves the kingdom in your place. You’re not needed. Ruin can’t say that I don’t have the right to rule after my son becomes the Void Vampire. Isn’t his blood royal too?”

“Mother?” Horus stares at Isis, startled. His voice is high and frightened — young. “What are you saying? Why would I…?”

“Silence.” Isis glares at Horus, and he quails back. “You have been a waste of a knot, until you lost it. And you are even more of a waste now, unable to give me a grandchild to continue our lineage. Sobek was at least a fighter with a respected position at court. But what do you do? Arrange parties? Fuck as many Shadow Humans and Omegas as you can? What use do I have for a pretty Alpha as a son? You will sacrifice yourself tonight, and your name will at least be remembered as more than a joke. Be grateful.”

Horus is trembling. “You don’t mean that.”

Isis’ smile is as cruel as any she has directed at me. “I don’t argue with dead Bloods.”

Horus lets out a sob. “Mother…”

Isis has already turned away from him, however, as if he is already lost to her in the Void.

I stare at her.

She talks of love…love owed to her. Yet she doesn’t show it to her own family.

I may not understand much, but I love my nestmates.

Daire and Freya may not love me but that won’t stop me showing my love for them, even if they don’t ever discover how much I have given up for them, even my life.

Isis holds up her long-clawed finger. “It’s a simple choice. Kneel and slit your throat. I deserve to watch you choke on your own blood, after you denied me the satisfaction of watching it happen to King Daire. Take his place or watch your Omega die.”

I cut a quick glance at Horus.

He appears in a daze, as tears drip down his cheeks.

Yet his claws are still embedded in Freya’s neck. His fangs are too close to her artery.

When the crocodile swings her head toward me, I shake my head.

It was never a choice.

I fall to my knees on the marble and wince. My shadows retract.

“In a heartbeat.” I duck my head, and my hair hangs over my face.

At least I shall die in my wedding outfit. That feels important.

My final wish had been to go through with the ceremony and ritual, side by side with my chosen King and Queen. I don’t know whether Daire is alive or dead, however, and this is the only way to at least make sure that Freya survives this.

“A blood oath,” I say. “If I do this, then you don’t kill, harm, or imprison my nestmates. You allow them to live under your protection.”